Reflector



G. TRIPFE April 3, 1934.

REFLECTOR Filed June l5, 1951 Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The present invention relatesto reflectors, and more in particular to a novel construction of auxiliary reflector adapted to be mounted within the main reector of a spotlight, headlight,

searchlight, iloodlight, or any light construction where it is desired to project an intense and concentrated beam of light.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a means and method of concentrating l0 and projecting an intensified beam of light in such manner as to substantially eliminate objectionable rearward reflection of the beanr in fog or mist, andv so constructed and arranged as to have a clearer and more distinct and distant vision than is possible with the lights and reflectors now employed. This construction also permits greatervsafety in night driving for the reason that the deflected beam of light, or a portion thereof, is concentrated and intensified.

A further object is to provide a 'structure having a combination of reflectors so constructed and positioned as to concentrate and intensify a beam of light, or a designated portion or part of such beam, and project the same without causing glare and dispersion of the reflected rays.

Another object is to provide a construction adapted to project a concentrated and intensified beam of light devoid of any dark spots. In the lights now employed, a dark area appears in the reflected rays or beam. Such dark area is normally the image of the socket in which the light bulb is mounted. By the present invention, this 4 dark spot is eliminated and a concentrated and intensified ray of light is projected in its place. Another object is to'provide a novel construction of an auxiliary or secondary reflector and means of mounting the same within the main reflector whereby the projected beam of light is concentrated in a predetermined portion thereof and is adapted to be projected for a greater distance and with greater intensity.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel mounting for a. reflector construction, and a positioning and holding means therefor. In the present embodiment, the mounting is made adjustable whereby the reflector may be shifted and adjusted to take care of any inaccuracies or discrepancies in the construction of the main and/or auxiliary reflectors or to give any desired adjustment of the reflected Y light rays. Although the invention is referred to and disclosed as adapted for automobiles, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of employment on other moving or stationary objects. as in boats, searchlights, etc., in fact,

Wherever an intensified and concentrated beam of light is necessary'or desirable.

A further object is the provision of a novel mounting or bracket for positioning the light upon a bar, arm, or other object. The invention discloses and comprehends a universal mounting permittingthe light to be shifted to any desired position, and retained in such position.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy, and easy of assembly and adjustment; and such further objects advantages and capabilities as will later more lfully appear, and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while I haveshown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is sus-l ceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details and constructions, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing: l

Fig. 1 is a view of alight provided with the novel invention, part of the casing being broken away s0 and the reflectors being shown in vertical cross section.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the auxiliary and main reflector, the light bulb having been removed to more clearly disclose the mounting of the auxiliary refiecto Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of the two reflectors and the position they assume one with the other, and the light rays reflected from the auxiliary reflector.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the auxiliary reflector and its mounting upon the light socket.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention comprises a spotlight or headlight provided with an outer casing or housing 1 having a parabolic reflector 2, lens 3, the latter being held in position by means of a collar or flange 4.

In order to mount the light upon a brace member or arm, there is provided a. bracket 5 adapted to be suitably attached tothe casing 1, this bracket in turn being connected to .an attaching member 6 by means of a bolt or other attaching means '7 and nut 8. The attaching member 6 is shown 105 as provided with a cut-out portion 9 in which the head of the bolt 7 seats. A lower attaching member 10 is similar in contour to that ofv the memberand these members are connected together by means of adjusting bolts 11. In order to 11o permitted by the attaching members 6 and l0.

which, as will be readily seen may be adjusted as desired. A set screw 13 retains the attaching members in a predetermined adjusted position.

Positioned within the light socket 14 is a bulb 15 of standard construction and provided with a filament 16. As more clearly disclosed in Figure 4, the socket 14 is provided with bayonet slots 17 adapted to receive and retain pins or lugs mounted on the base of the light bulb. The light socket is further provided with oppositely disposed pins or lugs 18 adapted to receive ears or projections 19 upon a spider 2O provided with spring fingers or arms 21. Attached to the spider 20 as by means of rivets or the like 22 is a reflector 23. An arm 24 also formed on or connected to the socket 14, is bent downwardly and over the reflector 23 and is provided with a set screw 25 to permit adjustment of the reflector 23, toward or away from the light bulb 15. Also by reason of the mounting of the ears or projections 19 on the pins or lugs 18, the reflector 23 may swivel thereon to permit additional adjustment of this auxiliary reflector in relation to the main reflector 2.

The auxiliary reflector 23 is substantially semiparabolic in form. This reflector when placed in position in the main reflector 2 is somewhat distorted by a tie wire 26 which bridges the side walls of the reflector and draws them inwardly. By reason of the construction and position of the auxiliary reflector, the reflected light becomes intensified especially in substantially the central portion of the reflected beam. This intensified auxiliary beam of iight which is deflected by the auxiliary reflector, is substantial of oval shape and fills the dark area in the main reflected beam, with light of a greater intensity than the remainder of the light pattern from the upper reflector.

This lower or auxiliary reflector 23 covers and is positioned in front of the lower half of the main reflector, the main reflector having a greater focal length than the auxiliary reflector. The axes of these reflectors are divergent so that from the main reflector which comprises the upper half of the reflecting surface, is projected a converging beam in the center of which is a dark area, which is in reality an image of the socket. The filament of the bulb or the light source is located in front of the focus of the main reflector, but at the focus of the auxiliary reflector whereby the beam reflected and projected from the lower or auxiliary reflector is a more highly concentrated converging beam approximately circular in outline so that when the two reflectors are placed in their designed position, the axes of the main and the auxiliary or lower reflectors are divergent from one to three degrees, which drops or projects the concentrated round beam as projected by the lower or auxiliary reflector into the dark area that originally appeared in the converging beam from the upper reflector, thereby filling this dark area with light of greater intensity than the remainder of the projected light pattern.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawing, it will be readily seen and understood that the invention is particularly well adapted for use wherever a highly concentrated and intensified beam of lightl is desired, and is particularly well adapted for use in any spotlight, headlight, searchlight, floodlight, etc., on any moving or stationary object, or wherever it is desired to secure a beam of great intensity which is not subject to objectionable rearward reflection while projected into fog or mist.

Although the reflector is disclosed as positioned in the lower portion of a main reflector, it is to be understood that should it be found desirable to project a different pattern of light or intensify the rays other than in the central portion of the beam, the auxiliary reflector may be positioned to accommodate such results.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

In a light construction, a main reflecting surface, a lamp socket in said reflecting surface, a member pivotally mounted on said socket and provided with spring fingers, an auxiliary reflecting surface secured to said member, said spring fingers being extended along the back portion of the auxiliary reflecting surface so as to provide spacing means for maintaining the main and auxiliary reflecting surfaces in spaced relation, and a set screw adjustably supported by said socket and having engagement with the auxiliary reflecting surface, so that said last mentioned surface may be adjusted to project a portion of its beam into a portion of the beam projected from the main reflecting surface.

GRAHAM TRIPPE. 

